Door-closing device



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1926 HIIIIIIIIBL- QjtjrIIZtIgij @2112: 111i;

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DOOR CLOSING DEVICE Filed Jan. 8 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l ateteted Sept. 16, 193% CYRIL C. COX, F DENVER, CQLOBADO IDOOBCIJOSING' DEVICE Application filed January 8, 1926. Serial No. 80,009.

My invention relates to door operating apparatus and more particularly to apparatus of the general character disclosed in my application for Patent No. 55,085, September 8, 1925, it being an object of the present invention to include in the apparatus certain improvements that increaseits usefulness and facilitate its mode of operation.

The improvements above referred to reside principally in the provision of means for holding the door in its open position as long as the operatingmechanism is in operation; in providing a latch for fastening the door, which may be withdrawn either 1 automatically by the door-operating mechanism or manually, independent of the same; in providing asimple operative connection between the door and the operating mecha- -nism; and in providing a means for discon- 2 tinuing the operative connection between the door and the operating mechanism when the door is locked.

The improvements have been shown in a preferred form in the accompanying draw- I 2 ings, in the several views of which like parts are similarly designated and in which,

Figure 1 represents a sectional plan view of the improved mechanism in operative connection to a swinging door,

Figure 2, a vertical section along the line 2-2. Figure 1,

Figure 3, a diagrammatic view of the circuits included in the invention, showing the parts intheir normal inoperative position 5% and drawn to a reduced scale,

Figure 4, a similar view showing the parts in the position they occupy when the circuits are closed,

Figure 5, a fragmentarysectional' elevation of the door,

Figure 6, a horizontal section along the line 66, Figure 5, v I s Figure 7, a similar section showing the latch bolt of the door withdrawn by the dooroperating mechanism,

Figure 8, a similar view, showing the latch bolt withdrawn by hand,

Figure 9, an enlarged section on the line to 9-9, Figure 5,

Figure 10, an enlarged section taken along the line 10-10, Figure 5,

Figure 11, an enlarged section on the line 11-11, Figure 6, and

Figure 12, an enlarged view of the cooperating members of the element by which the door is held in its open position while the opening mechanism is inoperation.

Referring further to the drawings, 5 designates a swinging door hung in its frame by means of a "vertical hi e-rod 6 which is rotatably supported in earings 7 and 8 above and below the door. The rod is rotatably fitted in a sleeve 9 extending along the rear edge of the door and rigidly fastened thereto, and the rod has at its lower end a laterally projecting arm 10 for its connection with the operating mechanism hereinafter to be described.

The arm projects through a slot 12 of the sleeve 9, in which it has a limited movement, so that when the rod is rotated it will first move independently of the sleeve to retract the locking bolt of the door, hereinafter to be described, and then impart its 'movement to the sleeve for the purpose of opening the door.

The door has at its front edge a sliding latch-bolt 13 which normally projects in a socket of the door frame to lock the door in its closed position, and which is engaged by a coiled spring 14.

An eccentric cam 15 on a spindle 16 rotatably supported in a transverse bore of the door, is placed in a recess 17 of the latch bolt, to provide for its manual withdrawal from the socket, and knobs 18 fastened at the ends of the spindle facilitate its operation. The latch bolt is furthermore provided with a chamber 19 to receive the head 20 of a siiding rod 21 which extends through a transverse bore of the door and which at its oppo site end is pivotally connected with the hingerod 6 by means of a link'22. It will be seen that when the door is locked, the spring holds the latch bolt in the position in which it projects in the socket of the door frame, that by rotation of one of the knobs, the bolt may be withdrawn from the socket without disturbing the hinge rod and that the bolt may likehousing which contains the operating wise be retracted by rotation of the hinge rod The link 22 is fastened in a groove of the rod as best shown in Figure 9, and it is to be, understood that when the latch bolt 1s retracted by hand the door may be swung about I the hinge bolt without disturbing its connec tion with the operating mechanism.

The lower end of the hinge rod is supported on a step-bracket 23 in a casing 24 placed below the floor of the room to which the door afl'ords access and forming a part of the-main mechanism.

The mechanism comprises an electric motor 26 which by means of a reduction gearing is operatively connected with a shaft 27 supported in bearings on the sides of the housing. The shaft carries an eccentric disk 28 in driving engagement with a curved contact-surface of a cross head 29 which is slidably mounted upon parallel horizontally disposed guide rods 30.

The reciprocating cross head has a stem 31 passing through an opening in the side of the housing and provided with a longitudinally slotted head for its connection with the arm 10 of the hinge rod 6 of the door.

A spring 32 coiled around the stem between the side of the housing and a shoulder on the cross head, functions in the operation to return the door to its closed position after it has been opened by the apparatus.

A dashpot 33 whose piston is connected with the cross head by a rod 34, provides an air-cushion which retards the closing movement of the door to a regulatable speed.

The operation of the motor is controlled by a band-brake 35 fixed at one end to the housing and having its opposite end connected with the sliding core of a solenoid 36. The circuits of the electric motor and the solenoid are controlled by switches, the moving element of which is provided by a springsupported depressible mat 37 covering a box 38 set in an opening'of the floor.

The mat carries a contact member 39 adapted to engage with two relatively stationary contacts 40 and 41 when the mat is depressed, and a second contact member 42 which en-, gages with two relatively stationary contacts 43 and 44 when the mat is in its normal position.-

A fixed commutator disk 45 of non-conductive material, concentric with the shaft 27, has in circular alinement a series of segmental contact plates 46, 47 and 48, and a brush 49 on the shaft is adapted to consecutively englaggt the plates during each revolution of the s a 7 The plate 47 has an extension in lapping relatlon to the plate 46, to causethe brush to engage both plates simultaneously in its normal position. A conductor 49 connects the contact plate with a source of electricity 50, and it is broken beneath the mat for connection with the contacts 40 and 41.

The field of the motor is included in a conductor 51 whichconnccts the opposite pole of the source with the brush 49, and a circuit is thus provided for the motor, which is completed when the contacts are bridged by the member 39 on the mat upon depression thereof, while the brush engages the contact plate 47. The brake-circuit comprises a conductor 52 connecting the source of electricity with 'the brush of the commutator and including the coilof the solenoid 36, the conductor being likewise broken beneath the mat to connect with the contacts 43 and 44 which in the normal position of the mat are bridged by the member 42. v

i A second conductor 53 connects the opposite pole of the source of electricity with the contact plate 46 of the commutator.

The electric circuits above described, are identical to those of the apparatus disclosed in the prior application, and a detailed explanation of the operation with reference thereto is thought to be unnecessary to convey a complete understanding of the improvements included in the present invention.

When the mat is in its normal raised position the brake circuit is closed and the motor circuit is open, and when the mat is depressed by a person or vehicle approaching the door, the brake circuit is opened and the circuit of the motor is closed.

The motor is operated as long as the brush engages the plate 47 and continues its movement by its momentum when the brush en-' gages the dead plate 48, and the movement of the motor is by means of the cross-head 29, imparted to the arm 10 on the rotary hinge pin of the door, which as stated hereinbefore," first retracts the latch bolt, and then by engagement with the sleeve 9, moves the door to its open position.

When the brush reengages the contact plate 46 the brake circuitis again closed to discontinue the movement of the motor and the latter remains in a condition of rest, provided that the mat has in the meantime returned to its original position. After the rotary movement of the shaft is discontinued, the door under the retarding influence of the air cushion in the dash pot, is slowly returned to its closed position by expansion of the spring 32.

the door may move vided. A contact finger 54 is rigidly fastened to the cross head 29 in insulated relation i Should, however, the mat be held in its depressed condition after the shaft has com-' order to prevent this coil and the contact finger are connected in a circuit 57 adapted to be closed by the engagement of the member 39 on the met 37 with a contact 58 when the member 39 engages the contacts 40 and 41 to close the motor circuit. The magnet thus being energized, holds the cross head while themotor continues its operation, and the door isthus maintained in the open position as long as the mat remains depressed.

This prevents the door from moving while a person or vehicle remains on the mat after the eccentric has completed its one revolution required to move the door to the open position, and it will be apparent that as soonas the mat is released, the magnet circuit will be broken and the arts of the mechanism returned to their original position as before.

In order to prevent the mechanism from operating by depression of the mat when its service is not required, a switch 59- is connected in both the motor and the brake circuits, as shown in Figures '3 and 4, and the switch is preferably associated with a latch- 60 adapted to lock the door when the switch is moved to open the circuit. Normally, the

switch closes the circuits in which it is connected, as shown in Figure 4, but when the latch is adjusted to lock the door as indicated in Figure 3, the circuits are opened in the switch and further depression of the mat by.

passing vehicles or persons will have no influence upon the mechanism which under ordinary conditions, 0 crates the door.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In door-operating apparatus, a normally closed door, mechanism'to open the same, a medium to energize the mechanism by action of a person or vehicle approaching the door, a circuit controlled by said medium, and an electro-magnet in saidcircuit to hold the door in its open position while themediumt is in operative condition.

2. In door-operating apparatus, a normal- 1y closed door, a rotary eccentric, a cross head operated by the eccentric, means for converting a movement of the cross head into an opening movement of the door, an electric motor in driving connection with the eccentric, an electro-magnetic device to lock the cross head in the position in which the door is open, circuits for the motor and the electro-magnetic device, and a switch distant from the door, controlling the circuits.

3. Indoor-operating apparatus, a normally closed door, a rotary eccentric, a cross head operated by the eccentric, means for converting a movement of the cross head into an opening movement of the door, a motor for the operation of the eccentric a device -for locking the cross head in the position in which the door is open, and a medium to actuate the motor and the device by action of a person or vehicle approaching the door.

4. In door-operatin mechanism, a door, a

hinge member adapts to open the door and having a limited idle movement with relation thereto, a latch to lock the door in a closed position, operatively connected with the hinge member to be withdrawn by its said limited movement, the door being opened by further movement of said hinge member, and mechanism to operate the hinge member.

. In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

CYRIL C. COX. 

